Chrysanthemum plant

#The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Hartmann's Gold Dignity.

#The new cultivar was observed and selected in a cultivated field at Kirkwood, Mo. as a mutation of the standard chrysanthemum Deep Yellow Hartmann's Dignity, disclosed in my pending application Ser. No. 123,788, filed Feb. 22, 1980. The parent Deep Yellow Hartmann's Dignity in turn was a mutation of the cultivar Hartmann's Yellow Dignity, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,477 granted Nov. 6, 1979 to Kerry S. Petvsky. The new cultivar was selected for its more compact flowerhead and increased petallage when compared with the parent cultivar Deep Yellow Hartmann's Dignity. Like its parent, the new cultivar is also importantly characterized by its solid, relatively deep yellow color on all the petals, including the underside of the petals. Asexual reproduction by vegetative cuttings taken by me at Kirkwood, Mo. has demonstrated that the characteristics of Hartmann's Gold Dignity are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

#The grandparent cultivar Hartmann's Yellow Dignity is a light yellow with very light color on the edges of the petals, showing almost white when fully open, especially on the reverse side of the petals. The flower petals of both Hartmann's Gold Dignity and its parent Deep Yellow Hartmann's Dignity are a much richer and deeper yellow color, and the pigmentation of the flower is solid throughout, including the reverse side of the petals, as will be noted on the photographic drawing. The growing habits and response of the new cultivar are identical to Deep Yellow Hartmann's Dignity and Hartmann's Yellow Dignity.

#The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence of the new cultivar, with the colors being as true as possible with color illustrations of this type. In Sheet 1, the compact flowerhead, heavy petal content, and deep and solid yellow flower color will be readily apparent.

#Sheet 2 comprises a comparison photograph, with Hartmann's Gold Dignity appearing on the left, and the parent cultivar Deep Yellow Hartmann's Dignity on the right. The increased petallage and more compact flower head are clearly evident.

#The following is a description of the new cultivar, with color references being made to the R.H.S. Color Chart published by the Royal Horticultural Society of London, England. The observations and color values are based on plants grown under commercial greenhouse conditions at Kirkwood, Mo.

#The plant:

#Origin.--A mutation of Deep Yellow Hartmann's Dignity.